It's not too early to plan your Thanksgiving menu, assuming you're the one doing the cooking this year, and if a turkey is on the menu, knowing when to thaw it is critical. The last thing you want is to try and roast a half-frozen turkey. This video from America's Test Kitchen will help you do it right.

The important thing to remember is that your turkey needs about one day in the fridge for every four pounds, so an average 12 pound turkey will take about three days to thaw completely and be ready to cook. If you're planning on brining your bird, you should add however many days you plan to let it soak to that calculation, since you won't want to brine until it's thawed. They also add it's important to thaw your bird in a disposable baking dish or other container, since some of the juice may run out of the bag, and you don't want that all over your fridge racks.